Boost for offender prevention schemes gain

The Youth Justice Board received an extra £25m for programmes
to prevent offending and antisocial behaviour by young people as
part of last week’s Budget.

It is expected to be used for prevention schemes such as youth
inclusion projects and parenting programmes to help children aged
12 and under who are at risk of offending.

The announcement came just weeks after Rod Morgan, head of the YJB,
told the House of Commons home affairs select committee that,
although there were about 250 early intervention schemes for young
people around the country, 1,300 more were needed.

Bob Ashford, head of prevention at the YJB, welcomed the funding
for 2006-7 and 2007-8. He said: “We’ve always argued that
prevention is better than cure.”